BackgroundThe assessment of muscle quality is expected to help predict the prognosis of sarcopenia and examine the response to intervention. Ultrasonography can be used to evaluate approaches for determining muscle quantity and quality. We focused on the lower leg muscles and examined the relationship between the ultrasonographic assessments and the components of sarcopenia and muscle quality by comparing them with those of the quadriceps muscle (QFM).Methods47 physically healthy older participants aged 78.3 ± 6.0 years (53% male) were enrolled in this cross‐sectional study. Muscle thickness (MT) and echo intensity (EI) of the lower leg muscles and QFM were assessed with ultrasonography. Muscle mass, grip strength, and gait speed, and lower leg muscle strength were measured. Muscle quality was calculated using a formula: leg muscle strength/leg muscle mass.ResultsThe MTs and EIs of the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) and QFM were significantly associated with grip and leg strength. We observed a significant correlation in the MTs and EIs of the lower leg muscles and QFM. The EIs of the lower leg muscles and QFM showed significant negative correlations with muscle quality. In the multiple linear regression model, the EI of the TA and QFM was extracted as an independent factor of muscle quality (TA: β = −0.35, p = 0.0358; QFM: β = −0.30, p = 0.0327).ConclusionsThe ultrasonographic assessments of the lower leg muscles, especially the TA, were associated with sarcopenia components and muscle quality equal to or greater than those of the QFM.
Objective:
GLP-1 analog is suitable for use in obese diabetic patients as a drug having an effect of improving postprandial blood glucose and suppressing weight loss. Recently, it has been reported that the use of this drug causes hypotension, and its mechanism is to act on the GLP-1 receptor of the proximal tubule to promote sodium excretion and increase NO production of vascular endothelium. However, few clinical reports have examined the antihypertensive effects of GLP-1 analogs. We investigated the effects of liraglutide on blood pressure and urinary sodium excretion.
Design and method:
The subjects were ten patients with type 2 diabetes who admitted to our department for the adjustment of the antidiabetic treatment regimen (age 66.9 ± 11.7 years, male 40%). Before introduction of liraglutide and before discharge, various tests including blood pressure and blood glucose control index and measurement of urinary sodium excretion. The dose of liraglutide was 0.3 mg/day for the first week, then increased to 0.6 mg/day, up to a maximum of 0.9 mg/day.
Results:
Both BMI and HbA1c (NGSP) decreased with the administration of liraglutide (BMI from 28.1 ± 3.8 to 27.0 ± 3.7, p < 0.001, HbA1c from 8.7 ± 1.5% to 7.5 ± 1.1%, p < 0.001). Urinary Na excretion increased with administration of liraglutide (frome 135.7 ± 13.71 mEq/day to 155.2 ± 30.7 mEq/day, p < 0.05). Systolic blood pressure tended to decrease in patients with hypertension (from 130.9 ± 15.0 mmHg to 124.0 ± 11.5 mmHg, p = 0.06).
Conclusions:
Liraglutide, a GLP-1 analog, showed an improvement in glycemic control and a weight loss effect, as well as a decrease in urinary Na excretion. The drug was considered to exhibit antihypertensive effects, particularly in cases of hypertensive complications.
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